I know...I know! Come on, let me have it! I have no excuse for my tardiness other than bewilderment and laziness. I've been trying to figure out the direction my little story should take ever since the lovely lady I'm writing it for made a request that goes against how things were supposed to turn out. Now, I think I may have figured out how to give her what she wishes for and still have it be believeable...I hope. So, 'taking a break' and trying to figure out how to make it work has led to you all waiting ten days for an update. Anyway, enough talk...lets read!
Cindy
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Sam awoke with a start, his chest heaving as he sucked in deep, gasping breaths. One shaky hand rose to nurse his chest as he willed himself to calm down. Once he was able to catch his breath, he gingerly sat up and swung his legs over the edge of his bed. He listened for any sign that Dean had been awakened, but all he heard was the even sound of his brother's breathing. Sam sighed, glad that Dean was still asleep. He knew his brother was exhausted, plus he really wanted to be able to do something without the older boy guiding his every move. He wished that he could remember what made his brother so protective, what made him so devoted to keeping him safe. Sam smiled as he pushed to his feet, the boy warmed by the feeling of safety this young man who was his brother brought to him. As he carefully made his way toward the door, his smile fell as his thoughts returned to the nightmare he'd woken from.
The dream was different this time. There was no winged woman with long, sharp claws. There was no woman leering down at him with painted red lips, tongue ghosting over them in anticipation of the coming kiss. This time there was only a hospital room and the tall, dark haired man who he knew now to be his father. And then there was Dean. The young man from his previous dreams looked pale and small in the hospital bed, tubes and wires running from every part of his body, machines beeping and chirping as he slipped further and further away. Sam knew that this was more of a memory than a dream and he wondered how that could be. Why could he remember things in his sleep when he couldn't remember them awake? Why did his dreams flit away so quickly, leaving him grasping for any thread just so he could remember something…anything?
Sam shook his head as his searching hands found the doorknob. He turned it as quietly as he could and slipped through the open door. He counted his steps back toward the direction he remembered the bathroom to be and stepped into the room. Though he had some difficulty, he was able to finish his business fairly quickly then washed his hands before beginning the slow trek back to he and Dean's room. He stepped out into the hall and smiled as his now acute hearing picked up the sounds of his brother mumbling in his sleep.
"Sam…"
Sam spun around and nearly lost his balance before catching himself with one hand on the wall. "Wh-who's there?" he called shakily.
No sound met his ears and after a few minutes he let out a long breath then pushed away from the wall. "Jumpy much?" he whispered with a half chuckle as he once again began to shuffle toward his room.
"Sam…"
Sam stopped, unable to move as the eerie voice echoed lightly down the hallway. He turned toward the stairs and with one hand sliding along the wall, guiding his way, he began to walk. He wasn't sure where the voice was coming from, but he knew that he had really heard it. It wasn't exhaustion, or his imagination. The hair standing up on the back of his neck was proof that the voice was more than that. It was there, just as real as the wood floor beneath his feet…and it was familiar. He didn't know how he knew it. He only knew that he'd heard it before and it brought nothing but cold, deep fear to his heart. He didn't know why he was even considering seeking the voice out without waking his brother, but deep inside he realized his fear was more for the young man who called himself brother than for himself.
Sam's hand finally hit the corner of the wall that signaled the landing at the head of the staircase. He remembered being guided up these steps and knew how steep they were. He searched for the handrail before slowly making his way down the steps. After what seemed like hours, his bare feet found the wooden floor of Bobby's livingroom. Sam stopped and listened for any trace of the phantom voice.
"Where are you? What do you want?" he called softly when all that met his ears was the steady ticking of the cuckoo clock on the wall.
"Sam…come to me…"
Sam jerked his head toward the back of the house and swallowed nervously as he began to move in that direction. He wanted to turn around…wanted to wake his father and brother, but he couldn't. His feet seemed to move of their own accord until he was in the kitchen and searching for a door that would lead him outside. Finally, his hand grazed the doorknob and within seconds he walking out onto the porch, the cold night air enveloping him, cooling his heated skin. He found the railing to the stairs and eased one foot down onto the first step. Suddenly, a hand grabbed hold of his shoulder and began to pull him back.
"No!" Sam yelled in fear and surprise as he swung his arm around, hoping to hit whomever, or whatever was attacking him.
"Sam! Stop…it's me!" a familiar voice cried causing Sam to immediately stop and nearly collapse back in his relief.
"D-Dean?" he asked, his voice barely more than a sigh. "I…I…"
"Shhh, Sammy…wait," Dean whispered as he pulled Sam back up onto the porch and moved in front of him.
"What? Dean…"
"I heard it, Sam. The voice…I heard it this time," Dean said, his hand reaching back to make sure Sam stayed behind him.
"You heard it? Who is it? What does she want with me?" Sam cried softly, the tremor in his voice telling his older brother just how terrified he was.
"My guess? It's the bitch who took your sight, Sammy," Dean answered as he stepped back, gently pushing Sam toward the door that would take them to the relative safety of Bobby's kitchen. "What the hell were you thinking anyway? Coming out here by yourself? I should kick your ass, you know that right?"
"Dean…I…"
"You can't keep him from me, Dean," the voice suddenly called. "I need to see Sam."
"You ain't getting anywhere near him, bitch!" Dean shouted angrily. "Now…show yourself!"
Sam whimpered lightly behind Dean and the older boy reached back and placed a comforting hand on the terrified teen's chest. Suddenly, hurried footsteps could be heard racing toward the house and toward where the boys stood. The back door crashed open and both John and Bobby stumbled out onto the porch behind Sam.
"Dean…Sam…what the hell is going on!" John spat as he rounded in front of his eldest son, his dark eyes wide with worry.
"She's here, Dad," Dean answered. "I heard her."
"She? Who's here?" John asked, though he was pretty sure he knew the answer.
"The demon bitch…and she wants Sam," Dean answered.
John sucked in a harsh breath and turned to scan the darkness beyond the house. "Bobby, get the boys into the house," he said, the man in full on hunter mode.
"Dad…no!" Dean cried.
"Dean…no argument! Get your brother and get into the house. Now, Dean!"
"Yes, sir…"
"I don't think so, Johnny boy…I came here to see that sweet little boy of yours…"
John narrowed his eyes as he scanned the yard. "The only thing you'll be seeing is fire when I send your filthy ass back to hell!" he hissed as he turned his head ever so slightly so as to see his sons behind him. "Dean..inside…now…"
Without warning, John, Dean and Bobby were flung from the porch, their grunts as they hit the ground carrying over the night breeze.
"Dean! Dad!" Sam screamed as he felt his brother ripped away from him.
"S-Sam…get inside," Dean groaned from somewhere to Sam's right.
Sam began to back up, but the voice stopped him in his tracks. "Do and they all die, Sammy…all because of you. Show your family how brave you are, just like you showed me before."
"Don't listen to her, son! Get inside like your brother said!" John called, the man crying out as he was lifted from the ground and slammed back against the side of the house.
"Dad!" Dean shouted, but soon he too was slamming against the wall, his back screaming as it met the unforgiving wood.
Bobby met the same fate on the opposite side of the porch, all three hunters fighting valiantly to break the demon's hold, their eyes widening when a beautiful woman with long flowing black hair stepped from the shadows, a victorious sneer curling her red lips.
"Sam…come here," the demon called, her deep blue eyes flickering to black as they turned onto the trembling teen.
"N-No…leave me alone. Let my family go!" Sam shouted defiantly, his hand gripping the porch railing tightly.
"I'll kill them all, Sam. I'll make you listen as the life is squeezed from them…their hearts ripped from their chests," the demon spat before turning her gaze onto Dean.
The demon lifted one hand and fisted her fingers and immediately, Dean began to choke. The teens face turned a deep red as blood began to trickle from the corner of his mouth. Sam, hearing the sounds of his brother's struggles, took a panicked step forward, much to his father's horror.
"Sam…no!" he shouted.
"Shut up, you frickin' moron! I don't want to hear any voice except my sweet Sammy's!" the demon screamed.
John tried to scream back, but the words refused to come. He struggled harder, his dark eyes glancing over to see his eldest son struggling to breathe. His heart pounded furiously in his chest as he watched Dean weaken from the invisible attack.
"Ahh…that's better. Silence. Now, me and my boy can talk in peace," the demon said as she turned her attention back onto the youngest hunter. "Sam…if you want your brother to live, you'll come out here to me," she called.
Sam turned his sightless gaze in his brother's direction, Dean's struggles alerting him to his whereabouts. He could hear the choking, gurgling sounds and knew what he had to do. "Okay…just…leave him alone. I'll do anything you want," he called out, his white eyes now turned in the demon's direction.
The demon smiled then dropped her hand. Dean gasped then sucked in a deep breath, his green eyes widening as he watched his baby brother carefully descend the porch steps. "Sammy…no," he called out weakly. "Please…"
Sam turned toward his brother's voice and smiled sadly. "It's okay, Dean. I'll be okay," he said before turning his head toward the demon and resuming his slow, clumsy walk across the yard.
Dean tried to call out again, but found that he too had been silenced and could only stare in horror as Sam neared the demon. Dean knew that the yard had been prepared to keep the demon away, but Sam was one step away from leaving the safe zone and panic exploded inside him as Sam took that last step toward the demon. He glanced over and saw his father double his efforts to free himself then jerked his head around when he heard Sam cry out in surprise as the demon grabbed him and pulled him further away from his family. The Winchesters and their friend could only watch as the demon held their youngest, her fingers sliding through his hair as his arms hung limply at his sides.
Sam's heart pounded in his chest as he felt himself being grabbed by the arms and pulled forward. He stumbled when the demon stopped then shuddered as she raised one hand up and tenderly brushed her fingers over his face before carding them through his hair. He tried to pull away, but her strength was too much for him and he knew his family would pay the price if he fought, so he allowed her to touch him no matter how disgusted it made him feel.
"Why do you try to pull away? Did I not give you what you wanted?" the demon cooed as she pulled her fingers from Sam's hair and took a step back. "Oh, wait…you can't remember, can you?" she continued with a chuckle, her black eyes staring down at Sam's upturned face.
"Screw you," Sam hissed, the boy flinching when the demon suddenly cupped both sides of his face with her hands. She glanced up and smiled as she saw the hatred burning in the eyes of the hunters who would give their lives in a heartbeat to protect the one who stood before her.
"Now, now, Sammy…that wasn't very nice. I've given you what you requested, and at great detriment to myself as it turned out," the demon said.
"What do you want from me? Haven't you already taken enough?" Sam snapped.
The demon once again pulled her hands away and sighed. "Funny you should mention that. It was brought to my attention that…well, I may have over stepped my bounds a bit in granting you your wish," she answered, her voice filled with what Sam could only distinguish as fear.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Sam stammered. "You can't take it back! You can't take Dean!"
"Calm down…I mean, I knew your soul was hands off, and I really wanted it too, but…well, I guess they really didn't want you messed with at all," the demon answered.
"I don't understand. What are you talking about?"
"You belong to him, Sam. He wasn't very happy when he heard that I had made a deal with you. He wasn't happy at all." The demon glanced away, her body shuddering as she recalled how unhappy her boss had been. She still bore the wounds of her punishment, though she hid it well.
"He? I don't belong to anyone…you're crazy!"
"You believe what you want. You're life has never been your own, little boy. It will never be yours…it'll always be his and when the time comes, he'll reveal his plans for you."
Sam shook his head, his stomach roiling at the demon's words. He had no idea what she was talking about, but he wasn't about to let her think she was getting to him. He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin defiantly. "Why are you here? You better leave if you know what's good for you!" he spat.
"Ahhh, there's my brave little soldier! I was wondering if you'd lost that stubborn streak too."
"You didn't answer my question! Why are you here?"
"For this," the demon answered before suddenly stepping forward and pressing her hand to Sam's forehead.
Sam screamed out as pain lanced through his head, sending him to his knees with bone jarring force. Sam's family strained against the demon's hold, ignoring their pain, their only concern for their youngest member who now lay writhing on the ground as the demon pulled her hand away and stepped back from the boy. Sam's screams turned to whimpers until finally, he fell silent, his body going limp as the pain overwhelmed him. The demon looked up at her three captives and waved her hand then took a few steps back from Sam as they dropped to the ground.
Dean was on his feet and already staggering across the yard toward his brother before John or Bobby had even made it up from the ground. John was the first of the older men to make it up and he was running toward his youngest within moments of his son. Dean reached Sam and dropped to his knees beside his stricken brother, his green eyes looking up with intense hatred to stare at the smiling demon as he tried to pull him from her touch. John had different plans as he ran straight for the demon before launching himself over his sons, his body slamming into the demon and knocking her away from his baby. The two enemies rolled on the ground until John was flung away like he weighed nothing. The demon sprang to her feet and glared at the man as he once again struggled to his feet.
"You stupid moron! I'm going to rip you to shreds! You've ruined everything!" she shrieked as she moved toward John.
Suddenly, the demon was stopped in her tracks as the sound of Bobby's voice, chanting in Latin, carried over the other night sounds. "Wh-what are you doing, old man! No…."
Bobby continued, his intense stare never leaving the demon's face.
"Y-you don't k-know what…you're…doing…I can't f-finish…stop…"
On Bobby's last words, the woman meatsuit's mouth opened wide and black demon smoke poured out on a scream. The demon smoke disappeared into the night and the woman's body dropped bonelessly to the ground. Bobby rushed over to the fallen woman while John ran to his sons and dropped down next to his baby. His fingers immediately went to Sam's neck, the father sighing in relief when a strong pulse met his shaky fingers. Blood trickled from Sam's nose, but the boy's breathing was fine. John glanced up and stared into the terrified eyes of his eldest son.
"He's okay, Dean," he said softly and nodded when Dean let out a relieved breath.
"But, what if she hurt him some other way? What could she have taken from him this time?" Dean asked fearfully.
"I don't know, Dean. We need to get him inside and when he wakes, I guess we'll find out," John answered as he slid his arms beneath his baby's body and easily lifted the young teen from the ground.
John glanced over as Bobby pushed back to his feet. Bobby shook his head then looked down at the still body at his feet.
"Dammit," John hissed, his heart going out to the family who had to be looking for their missing member.
"I'll take care of her, Johnny. Get the boys into the house," Bobby said as he looked back up at his friend.
John nodded and turned toward the house, his precious burden pulled tightly to his chest. Dean walked beside him, his hand coming up to grasp John's arm as the small family made their way across the yard. John ascended the steps and allowed Dean to step in front of him to open the door. He made quick work of the stairs leading up to the second floor and soon was gently pulling blankets up around Sam's shivering form as the boy lay in his bed. Dean refused to get back into his bed, insisting instead to climb onto the other side of Sam's bed, his back resting against the headboard, fingers carding tenderly through his brother's hair. Sam moaned and then his eyelids began to flutter. John knelt on the floor beside the bed while Dean leaned forward and cupped his brother's cheek.
"Sammy…that's it…wake up," Dean coaxed as he watched his brother's face expectantly.
Sam's head rolled toward his brother, his brow furrowed as he slowly came to. "D-Dean," he whispered weakly.
"Yeah, kiddo, it's me. Time for you to wake up now," Dean answered softly.
"But…you…I…what…"
"Sam? What's wrong?" Dean queried, his green eyes seeking his father's face before returning to his brother's.
"Y-you're…you're alive?"
"Yeah, of course…what…wait. Sammy, do you remember me?" Dean asked, his heart leaping at the possibility that his Sammy may be back. "Sam…come on…open your eyes."
Sam struggled, but finally was able to open his eyes and the sight of them left his family breathless.
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Dun dun dun...oh no, did I just leave a cliffy for you all? Would I really do that after making you wait so long? Uh...yeah...of course! LOL So, I'll really try to post the next one sooner. Laziness be damned! Love you all...thanks for reading.
Cindy
